Today marks exactly six months since the election, yet the Turnbull Government has failed to enact one single measure that will prevent the widespread exploitation occurring in Australia’s labour market.
Despite promising a policy to prevent worker exploitation before the election, six months has elapsed without the government presenting any legislation to the Parliament.
In that same time we’ve seen two anti-worker pieces of legislation progressed but certainly not one piece of legislation that is pro-worker.
Since the election of the Abbott-Turnbull Government in 2013, there has been examples of systemic exploitation occurring in workplaces around the country including most recently the outrageous “cash-back” practices at 7-Eleven where workers are forced to pay half their wages back.
We have also had seven Parliamentary sitting weeks in which the Government could have brought forward its legislation. It hasn't done so because it isn't serious about tackling exploitation.
Only Labor has introduced proposed legislation to prevent workers being exploited.
For three years the Abbott-Turnbull Government has had the chance to legislate changes to ensure workers do not get ripped off. They failed to do that and their election policy was a lame attempt to trick Australians into believing they care about protecting Australian workers.
Labor demands the Government brings forward what they have promised and will scrutinise any proposed bill to make sure it genuinely protects workers.
This Government isn’t interested in the wellbeing or safety of workers, they are interested in quick political wins.
Australians have every right to ask why Mr Turnbull and his Government have not prioritised taking action in response to worker exploitation at 7-Eleven?
It is only Labor that will stand up for working and middle class families. Labor will put people first, strengthening and protecting workers’ rights at work.